President Obama has been clear his administration will take whatever steps are necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. The President has imposed the toughest sanctions Iran has ever faced, which are having a major impact on the Iranian economy, and has stood with our ally Israel in isolating the Iranian regime around the world.

PRESIDENT OBAMA HAS MADE IT CLEAR HE WILL NOT ALLOW A NUCLEAR IRAN

President Obama has repeatedly affirmed that the United States is determined to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. [MSNBC, 6/9/10]

Secretary Of Defense Panetta Reiterated That The United States Will Take “Whatever Steps Necessary” To Stop Iran From Developing An Nuclear Weapons. [CBS, 12/19/11]

President Obama Accelerated The Deployment Of Ships And Antimissile Systems To The Persian Gulf To Defend Against Possible Iranian Missile Strikes. [New York Times, 1/30/10]

PRESIDENT OBAMA PASSED THE MOST SEVERE SANCTIONS IRAN HAS EVER FACED

With President Obama’s Leadership, The United States Gained The Support Of Russia, China And Other Nations To Pass United Nations Security Council Resolution 1929, Creating The Most Comprehensive And Biting International Sanctions Regime The Iranian Government Has Ever Faced. [UN News Centre, 6/9/10]

Citing Sanctions, Russia Banned All Exports Of Major Weapons Systems To Iran. [New York Times, 09/22/10]

In June 2010, President Obama Worked With Congress To Pass The Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, And Divestment Act, Which Strengthens Existing US Sanctions And Makes It Harder For The Iranian Government To Buy Refined Petroleum And Other Goods It Needs To Modernize Its Oil And Gas Sector. [Associated Press, 6/24/10]

Close to $60 billion in energy-related projects in Iran have already been put on hold or discontinued as of the end of 2010. [Bloomberg, 12/1/10]

President Ahmadinejad Has Been Forced To Admit The Serious Impact Of Sanctions Placed On Government By The Obama Administration. [Washington Post, 11/1/11]

The Iranian Economy Now Faces Its Bleakest Prospects In Two Decades With An Almost Unanimous Forecast Of Low Growth, High Inflation, And Continued Double-Digit Unemployment. [Carnegie Endowment For International Peace, 03/18/10]

The Iranian Rial Has Lost About 35% Of Its Value Since September 2011. [Washington Post, 01/02/11]

In November 2011, The Obama Administration Took Additional Steps To Increase Pressure On The Iranian Regime To Comply With Its International Nuclear Obligations.

President Obama Issued An Executive Order Expanding Already Robust Sanctions To Target Entities That Help Develop Oil And Petrochemical. [Executive Order, 11/21/11]

The State And Treasury Departments Prohibited U.S. Persons from Engaging In Business With A Eleven Individuals And Entities For Their Role In Assisting Iran’s Nuclear Program. [State Department, 11/21/11]

In December 2011, President Obama Signed Into Law New Sanctions Targeting Iran’s Central Bank and Its Oil Revenues. [The White House, 01/23/12]

In January 2012, The European Union Decided To Impose A Phased Ban On Oil Purchases From Iran. [01/23/12]

In January 2012, The Obama Administration Designated Bank Tejarat, Iran’s Third-Largest Bank, As Subject To New Sanctions. [Treasury, 01/23/12]

PRESIDENT OBAMA LED THE EFFORT TO ISOLATE IRAN

President Obama Has Made The Choice Clear, Iran Can Either Fulfill Its International Obligations And Reap The Benefits Of Economic and Political Integration Or It Can Choose Isolation. [The White House, 11/21/11]

PRESIDENT OBAMA STRONGLY CONDEMNED THE IRANIAN REGIME’S ATTACKS ON ITS CITIZENS

President Obama Forcefully Spoke Out In Support Of The Iran People’s Efforts To Make Their Voices Heard And “Strongly Condemned” The “Unjust Actions” Of The Iranian Government. [NYT, 06/23/09]

PRESIDENT OBAMA STOOD BY ISRAEL IN THE FACE OF THE IRANIAN THREAT

Prime Minister Netanyahu Praised President Obama For His Efforts To Prevent Iranian Nuclearization And For Defending Israel's Right To Protect Itself Against Iranian Proxies. "President Obama has said that the United States is determined to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. The president successfully led the Security Council at the UN to adopt sanctions against Iran." [Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s Address to Congress, 5/24/11]

The Obama Administration Has Reinstituted Sanctions Against Iran-Allied Syria And Strongly Condemned Syria’s Transfer Of Scud Missiles And Other Arms To Hezbollah, Iran’s Proxy In Lebanon. [New York Times, 5/19/11] [The Telegraph, 4/20/10]

In tonight’s Iowa Debate Mitt Romney casually offered a $10,000 bet, after calling a $1,500 tax break for the middle class a band-aid. Mitt Romney may not know what $10,000 means to middle class families, but here’s what the average American family can buy with $10,000:

While both Romney and Gingrich claim they’d support and defend Israel, they’ve both advocated for starting foreign aid at zero, including Israel. And a fundraiser for Romney served as a lobbyist for the Arab Bank, which was investigated by the Treasury Department for funneling money to Palestinian terrorists. Their records stand in stark contrast to President Obama, who has constantly demonstrated his unshakeable commitment to Israel’s security and well-being, strengthening the unbreakable bond between our two nations. In both word and deed, the President has signaled to the world that the US‐Israel relationship is stronger than ever.

On immigration, Mitt Romney’s position is the most far-right of the Republican field. Tonight, he once again highlighted his extreme plan and said, “My own view is, those 11 million should register the fact they're here in the country. They should give some transition period of time, allow them settle their affairs and then return home and get in line at the back of the line with everybody else that wants to come here.” With plans like this, it’s clear that Romney is continuing his race to the right and taking his place as one of the most extreme presidential candidates in American history on immigration.

First, Romney said his health care plan in Massachusetts would be a model for the nation. Then, he flip flopped and said it shouldn’t. In reality, the national health reform law that Romney has vowed to repeal was based on Romney’s plan in Massachusetts.

Both Romney and Gingrich claim their policies are good for the American middle class. But the reality is the economic plans they’ve embraced slash taxes on corporations and the wealthiest Americans and do nearly nothing for the middle class.

In 2007, Gingrich Praised The Freddie Mac Business Model And Warned Against Changing It, In Direct Contrast With His Current Assertion That He Warned The Mortgage Company Of Its “Insane” Business Practices.

First, Romney was against extending the payroll tax cut because it was a “temporary little Band-Aid.” Then, he said he’d “like to see the payroll tax cut extended” because it helps American families. And tonight, he again called the payroll tax cut a “little Band-Aid.” His flip-flopping on the payroll tax cut - and his economic plan - shows middle-class Americans whose side he’s really on. And if $1500 for the average American family is a “little Band-Aid,” then why does his plan only give them $54?

Tonight, Mitt Romney said that we need to have trade policies that make sense for America, not just for the people with whom we trade. This President has not done that. And China, who has been cheating, has to be cracked down on.

Romney can’t make up his mind on what his strategy would be in Afghanistan. First, he wouldn’t say what he’d do. Then in January, he said it was his “desire” not to leave Afghanistan. Five months later, he claimed he wanted the troops to come home as soon as possible.

Romney and the rest of the Republican field support zeroing out foreign aid, even with our closest allies – including Israel. But in true Romney fashion, after he supported zeroing out aid to Israel, he flip flopped and said he wanted to increase it instead. And at tonight’s debate, he said his first foreign trip as president would be to Israel to demonstrate our strong relationship.

President Obama has launched a series of trailblazing initiatives to protect the health and safety of the American people, reduce our dependence on imported oil and promote responsible use of domestic energy and new, clean energy technologies

The latest GOP debate proved that none of the Republican candidates have a plan to create jobs. But we did hear from Rick Perry about Mitt Romney’s record on jobs, and from Romney on Perry’s record on children’s health care.

At last night's GOP presidential debate, instead of offering a plan to improve the lives of middle-class Americans, the Republican candidates fought over which one of them has changed their position the most since their books came out. None of them managed to offered a single new idea.

Rick Perry can try to blame others for the state of health care in Texas, but middle-class Texans know the reality: Under Governor Perry’s policies, health insurance premiums have risen 105 percent, nearly 6.5 million Texans are uninsured, and the state has spent as little as possible on health care.

If there’s one thing debate watchers could count on, it’s a full-fledged attack on Social Security from the Republican candidates. These are the same candidates who have previously called for privatizing Social Security and even labeled it a “Ponzi scheme” – and we heard more of the same tonight.

Mitt Romney claims he’ll lower taxes for the middle class, but his plan will actually let special interests write their own rules, provide more tax cuts to large corporations and wealthy Americans, and cost $2.1 trillion.

Tonight’s debate confirmed that the Republican candidates are more interested in saying what the Tea Party wants to hear than in doing what the American people are demanding: -- more interested in arguing if Social Security is a "fraud" or a "Ponzi scheme" than in creating jobs.

From Rick Perry criticizing Mitt Romney's record on jobs to Jon Huntsman's charge that his fellow Republicans are running from science, the Republican candidates took the gloves off and attacked each other at last night's debate.

The Republican candidates attacked President Obama on border security, but his record is clear: unprecedented resources for securing our border and a smart and effective approach to enforcing immigration laws.

President Obama has been pursuing all forms of responsible domestic energy production -- including a record investment in clean technology and the approval of the first new nuclear plant in 30 years. The Republican candidates, however, would all protect special tax breaks for oil companies at the expense of middle class families.

Though the Republican candidates rail against health care reform now, their criticism ignores the reality of their records. Two candidates implemented similar health reforms in their states and another’s has the highest rate of uninsured people in the nation.

While Mitt Romney might like to claim that he’s the Republican candidate with the economic experience needed to be president, his record – from ranking 47th in job creation to raising taxes on individuals and businesses – tells a very different story.

While Perry might like to talk about the "Texas miracle," the reality is it’s just another Texas Tall Tale – just remember that growth has been driven by factors he didn’t control, like rising oil prices and increased military spending.

As governor, Mitt Romney bragged to the S&P that he had cut spending and raised taxes in Massachusetts. But at tonight’s debate, he flip flopped on the balanced approach he once took, even rejecting a compromise proposal of 10 spending cuts to every one revenue increase.

In tonight’s debate, Mitt Romney and Michele Bachmann reiterated that they opposed the compromise debt agreement. They in fact are following the extreme wing of their party that would have allowed our nation to default for the first time in history, which would have had disastrous effects for our economy.